Riga and Jūrmala
We’ve been staying in Riga’s Old Town for four days, and it’s been a neat place to visit. The best part about the trip is that before our arrival I knew next to nothing about Latvia. I knew it was once part of the Soviet Union, and since the dissolution of the Soviet Union has become part of the European Union, but I didn’t know much more about it than that.
We toured the Old Town quite extensively, and a bit beyond – Albert Street (Alberta iela) to the north of central Riga showcases some of the world’s best examples of Art Nouveau architecture, so we had to see that.
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Yesterday we took a day trip to Jūrmala, a beach town that is located just on the outskirts of Riga. Granted, it was (and still is) a bit chilly out, so we were walking the beach in our winter coats, but it was a nice place to visit. Supposedly you can find chunks of amber on the beach, but we weren’t able to find any (and we did look)!
![](http://briancrawford.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/jurmala-flags-768x1024.jpg)
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![](http://briancrawford.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/jurmala-clouds-1024x975.jpg)
![](http://briancrawford.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/amelia-at-jurmala-834x1024.jpg)
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One of the things I’ve found most fun to do in Riga is go for walks in the evening. The town is pretty much deserted at night; even on Saturday evening the Old Town of Riga was relatively quiet. Perhaps this is because the Old Town is primarily a tourist destination and the locals are out partying somewhere else. Either way, I didn’t mind it – I enjoyed walking with the kids and exploring the town at nighttime.
![](http://briancrawford.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/swedish-gate-1-576x1024.jpg)
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And that’s it for Riga. We’re off to Tallinn early tomorrow morning…